Be vigilant against communal trouble, EC tells poll observers

NEW DELHI: Apprehending politically-motivated communal tension during the UP assembly polls starting April 7, the Election Commission has instructed its observers to be extra careful and gather advance information about any possible communal outbreak.

The directions, given by chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami at a briefing of EC observers for the fifth, sixth and seventh phase of UP polls here on Tuesday, also call upon the officials to carry out vulnerability mapping of each of the districts allotted to them. This mapping will indicate areas where there is a possibility of silent or open intimidation of voters as well as bogus voting against names of absentee voters.

Even as Mr Gopalaswami was not too worried over the recent sectarian clashes in Lucknow and Kanpur, saying that “the situation as of now is under control”, the commission does not seem to be in a mood to take any chances.

“The commission cautioned the officials (appointed as observers) about possible communal violence, we have cautioned them to be extra careful and gather enough information in advance,” he told a press meet soon after addressing over 200 observers.

Elaborating on vulnerability mapping, the CEC said each observer had been asked by the EC to identify the polling stations which could face intimidation of voters or absentee voters. The commission will take extra security measures in such vulnerable areas, he said.

According to Mr Gopalaswami, vulnerability mapping was expected to be more effective as compared to the earlier practice of classifying the polling stations as sensitive and hypersensitive based on the inputs of each political party. Vulnerability mapping, however, is completely driven by the observers’ independent assessment.

Mr Gopalaswami brushed aside recent charges by chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav that the “indiscriminate” mass transfers of senior officials in the state was to blame for the sectarian violence in Lucknow and Kanpur. The CEC said the observers had been specifically asked to tour their respective constituencies extensively and build confidence among weaker and disadvantaged sections.

The officials would also be required to constantly review execution of non-bailable warrants, recovery of illicit arms and collection of licensed arms from undesirable elements, he said. The observers, besides ensuring that all critical events were extensively videographed, would need to act fast in case any communal trouble and, for this, they would have to have enough advance information on the communal situation.

When asked for the EC’s view on the government’s clarification on agriculture minister Sharad Pawar’s recent announcement of a sugar relief package, Mr Gopalaswami said the commission was yet to apply its mind on the issue and would soon take a decision on whether or not the model code was violated.

“The reply has come. We have not taken a decision,” he said adding that the government had clarified that Mr Pawar had not violated the model code of conduct. Mr Pawar had, during a public meeting in Maharashtra, declared that the centre would provide a Rs 1,350 per tonne as export subsidy to sugar mills in coastal areas and Rs 1,450 per tonne for factories located in other areas.